I'm travelling to Akron, OH to watch the Bridgestone Championship in August at the Firestone CC.

You guys got any local info regarding nice, near and affordbale accommodations.I'm travelling with the wife and "convinced" her to watch a full day's worth of golf so the accommodations had better be nice

What would you recommend as "alternative activity to golf" type activities in the Akron area?

Is the neighborhood there nice?

What are you both into? The River Valley (Cuyahoga) is absolutely beautiful, and you can go hiking there. Stan Hewett (sp?) Hall is in Akron, really nice older mansion to tour. Umm, catch a minor league baseball game downtown, can't vouch much for the nightlife as I stayed up in Kent usually. I had heard they cleaned up downtown some, so there should be stuff down there to do.

It isn't hard to stray too far and end up in a not so nice neighborhood in Akron, but the are around Firestone should be high-end.

We'd like to do some lake fishing and spend the night/s in cabin by a lake.We'd like for it to be close to Firsetone so we can catch Tiger if he'll have an early tee time.

He IS defending his title isn't he?

Hmmmm, OK, I can't help too much with that, but I think there is lakes, cabins, and fishing down around Mohican National Forest south of Akron. There's lots of lakes, mind yuo, but I don't know of too many with cabins for rent.

Thanks.Anyone from Ohio around here?

Well, I got my tickets for the weekend of the tournament.

I've never watched a tournament before and like many, I'd like to watch Tiger.

Is it possible to trail him evry hole and still get a good vantage point? Do I have to pick out spots on the course so I block off that particular spot for myself?

How early does one go to the tournament to get a good spot?

Manakiki Golf Course in Cleveland (an awesome Donald Ross Course, a must play IMO)
Sleepy Hollow GC in Brecksville
The Quarry in Canton (south of Akron)
Older course West of Akron - Barberton Brookside, nice old school course
Blue Heron - Newer 27 holes

There are some fairly expensive daily fee courses as well, Avalon Lakes, Quail Hollow, Little Mountain and Stonewater...."who needs 'alternative' activities to golf" anyway?

For fishing and cabins I would look at areas around the Portage Lakes. Its a couple minutes from Firestone and actually has some really nice areas because its so vast and spread out. The area around Firestone really isn't that nice or high end either. There are a decent amount of really good restaurants and golf courses that are close to Firestone as well. As far as downtown Akron, its not bad now. Its pretty much a younger crowd and most everything downtown is really for a younger crowd as well. I play Firestone a lot and live right by it so if you have any questions just ask.

Thanks! I'm staying in a hotel 20minutes (by mapquest) from Firestone. The PGA website lists the tournament as opening at 8am.

What time would you realistically suggest I arrive parked and ready to run?

Any strategic places you know of on the South Course?

I've never been to a tournament and I'm excited like crazy.Of course I wanna catch Tiger but do I trail him? Stake out his drives or his putts?

If you have a car I would suggest getting down there about 8am or so and paying to park in someones yard near the course and just watching people on the range for a while because there is a big range, putting green and short range right when you walk in. One of the best places to sit would be on either of the hills next to 3 green. On one side you can see tee shots going up 2 and then full shots coming into 3 green. On the other side you can see most full shots, unless they're on the right side of the fairway, and then tee shots up 4. The side thats by 2 is probably one of the best views on the whole course, plus if you're there early then you can get a nice little seat in the grass on the hill next to the little pond in front of 3 green and sit there all day. And its one of the only spots on the course thats in the shade too. There are a lot of hills around the greens that can block your view of the green if you aren't next to the ropes. Behind 16 green is a good spot, as are most holes on the back 9. The front 9 is pretty boring other than 3 really.

Awesome tips man.Are spectators allowed to bring foldable chairs?

So would Tiger be defending his title for sure?

Anybody else here in RX gonna be watching?